Syrian National Council condemns the execution of army soldiers in Aleppo

The Syrian National Council (SNC) condemned the violation committed by the rebel Salman Al-Farsi battalion following the execution of 20 army soldiers in the northern city of Aleppo. The SNC described this violation as a crime and called for holding the offenders accountable. The SNC also urged rebel fighters to adhere to international laws and conventions and to the values and principles of the Syrian revolution.Activists in the Hasaka suburb of Shadadi along the Iraqi border confirmed that more than 200 personnel from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard entered the town from Iraq. Activists also said that regime forces executed ten soldiers at the military security checkpoint while attempting to defect.Regime forces intensified their aerial attacks on residential areas in the provinces of Aleppo, Hama and Deir Azzour leaving dozens of civilians dead and many more wounded in addition to causing mass destruction. At least 13 civilians were killed in an airstrike that targeted a three-story building in the neighbourhood of Haydariay in the city of Aleppo, while dozens more were killed in similar attacks on the neighbourhoods of Bustan Qaser, Sukari in Aleppo and the provincial towns of Daret Ezza, Bab Nerab and Marea. In Hama, 12 civilians were killed as fighter jets shelled a residential compound in the town of Kafarzeita, while seven more were summarily executed by regime forces as they raided the groves of Helfaya. Many civilians, mostly children, were also killed as fighter jets bombarded the Deir Azzour suburbs of Shahil and Baghour.Heavy clashes resumed in several neighbourhoods of the city of Aleppo amid a complete cut off of electricity and water as regime forces continued to shell the city’s infrastructure. Regime forces resumed shelling the neighbourhoods of Marjeh, Hollok, Saif Adola, Baydin, Sheikh Maqsoud, Sheikh Khodor, Meyasar, Qadi Askar, Arqoub and Sha’ar as well as the provincial towns of Deir Hafer, Qubtan Jabal, Kafar Halab and Atareb.Fighting between rebel fighters and regime forces also continued in the capital as regime forces continued their heavy bombardment in the neighbourhoods of Qadam, Qaboun, Jobar, Hajar Aswad and Yarmouk refugee camp, while carrying sweeps and arbitrary arrests in the neighbourhoods of Mazeh and Nahar Aisha. They also shelled the provincial towns of Harasta, Thiyabaiya, Zabadani, Sayeda Zeinab, Sbeneh and Qatana leaving dozens of civilians dead and many more wounded.Regime forces also continued their massive military offensive throughout the country, killing dozens of civilians, wounding hundreds others and forcing thousands of them to flee their homes. Regime forces fiercely shelled the old city of Homs as well as all its provincial towns of Rastan, Qosayr, Bowayda Sharqiya and Dabaa. They also shelled the neighbourhood of Kazo in Hama as well as the district of Sahl al-Ghab in the province of Hama. They shelled the neighbourhoods of Hamidiya, Ardi and Sheikh Yasin in the city of Deir Azzour as well as its provincial towns of Boukamal and Mohasan. Furthermore, they resumed shelling the Daraa suburbs of Ma’arbeh, Naima, Um Mayathen and villages in the Lajat district and the Latakia suburbs of Ako, Salma and Kansaba as well as the Idlib suburbs of Jabal Zawiya, Taftanaz, Habeit, Qaimenas and Taliha. They also raided the city of Banyas in the province of Tartus and opened fire at civilians killing two and wounding many.